Biz

Mamamia Podcasts

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BIZ is a podcast about work and how to make it work for you. This season, we're promising new wisdom, fresh energy, and zero fluff. Co-hosts Em Vernem (ambitious but efficient) and Lisa Lie (founder of Learna) bring real talk, real hacks, and real experience. No vague inspo, no recycled advice—just smart, straight-up strategies that actually work. Because work is hard enough without having to figure it all out yourself. Because work is hard enough without having to figure it all out yourself.

Recent Episodes

SEP 2, 2026
How Much Money Do You Actually Need To Feel Free?
We're constantly told to earn more, save more and somehow become better at money. But what if feeling financially secure isn't just about the numbers? In this episode of Biz, Lisa Lie and Em Vernam sit down with financial educator Jess Brady to unpack the emotional side of money, and how the way we think about it can shape the choices we make. Jess explains what your "money monster" is, and how to stop it quietly sabotaging your financial goals. We also get practical: how to automate your money so you can stop wasting time online banking, what a "fruit tree" goal is and why having one can change the way you think about your financial future. In this episode you'll learn How childhood experiences around money can create "money monsters" which subconsciously sabotage your relationship with money How to eliminate those emotional barriers to create financial freedom How to automate your finances and stop constantly checking your bank account What a "fruit tree" goal is and why you need one THE END BITS READ OR LISTEN to Jessica's Book "Get Growing: A No-Nonsense Guide to Cultivating Wealth and Financial Freedom" Support independent women's media. Got a work life dilemma? Send us all the questions you definitely can't ask your boss for our Biz Inbox episodes - send us a voice note or email us at [email protected]. You can remain anon! HOSTS: Lisa Lie and Em Vernem GUEST: Jessica Brady - Money Educator EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Courtney Ammenhauser SENIOR PRODUCER: Thom Lion VIDEO PRODUCER: Marlena Cacciotti Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
29 MIN
AUG 26, 2026
Grit Or Quit? How To Know If Your Freelance Gig Will Explode
Everyone loves the idea of being their own boss. But what happens when your side gig becomes a real business? In this episode of Biz, Lisa Lie chats with Cherie Clonan, CEO of The Digital Picnic, about what it actually takes to make the leap from employee or freelancer to business owner. Cherie gets brutally honest about the reality of building a business with bub in tow: three years without a salary, the pressure of making payroll, the temptation to quit, and why business ownership isn't necessarily the freedom fantasy we're sold. She explains how she knew The Digital Picnic had "legs", what changes when you go from selling your own time to building a team, and why the biggest leap might actually come after becoming a freelancer. Plus, Cherie shares her simple "horizons of growth" framework to balance the day-to-day work of keeping a business alive with the bigger ideas that drove you to start it all. In this episode you'll also learn: How to tell if your side hustle actually has legs Why you don't necessarily need to quit your job to start a business The reality of going years without paying yourself The moment Cherie realised she had become the bottleneck in her own business What changes when you hire your first employees THE END BITS Support independent women's media. Got a work life dilemma? Send us all the questions you definitely can't ask your boss for our Biz Inbox episodes - send us a voice note or email us at [email protected]. You can remain anon! HOST: Lisa Lie GUEST: Cherie Clonan - The Digital Picnic EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Courtney Ammenhauser SENIOR PRODUCER: Thom Lion VIDEO PRODUCER: Marlena Cacciotti Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
26 MIN
AUG 19, 2026
How To Invest In Startups Without Knowing What You're Doing
What does it actually take to spot the next big business before everyone else? In this episode of Biz, Lisa Lie sits down with Phoebe Pincus, CEO of Startmate, who spends her days surrounded by founders, investors and a LOT of startup ideas. Start up investing may sound intimidating, but Phoebe walks us through how to actually begin, where to find the right startups and what you need to know before putting your money behind them. We get into the reality of how many startups fail for every success story, how investors can account for that when spreading their bets, and why investing in founders whose vision creates a future you actually want to be part of can become a powerful motivator. In this episode you'll learn: The power law principle and why startup investing is fundamentally different from traditional investing Why getting a read on the founder trumps any other data points How to spot the patterns that keep appearing in successful startups The people skills that actually matter, and why successful startups are a much longer journey than they look from the outside How to invest in a future you actually want to help create Where to start if you've never invested in a startup before How to find and gain access to the right startups THE END BITS Support independent women's media. Got a work life dilemma? Send us all the questions you definitely can't ask your boss for our Biz Inbox episodes - send us a voice note or email us at [email protected]. You can remain anon! HOST: Lisa Lie GUEST: Pheobe Pincus - Startmate EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Courtney Ammenhauser SENIOR PRODUCER: Thom Lion VIDEO PRODUCER: Marlena Cacciotti Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
25 MIN
AUG 12, 2026
The Thing About Income Tax You're Getting Wrong
There aren't many certainties in life... but tax is one of them. And look, on the surface it doesn't come across as the sexiest of topics, but burying your head in the sand is a surefire way to create unnecessary stress in your life. The sooner you get your head around tax, the less you'll have to think about it. In this episode of BIZ, Lisa and Em chat to the Managing Director of HNRY to unpack the misconceptions many people have about tax and how understanding it is essential, especially if you're a business owner, sole trader or make extra income outside of your regular employment. In this episode you'll learn: What you can actually claim as a work expense The pros and cons of different business structures when it comes to tax The tax incentives for superannuation contributions Why a tax refund might not be a good thing How to manage your taxes when you're self-employed THE END BITS Support independent women's media. Got a work life dilemma? Send us all the questions you definitely can't ask your boss for our Biz Inbox episodes - send us a voice note or email us at [email protected]. You can remain anon! HOSTS: Lisa Lie and Em Vernem GUEST: Karan Anand - Managing Director & Chief Strategy Officer at HNRY (Check them out if you're a sole trader and want to automate your tax!) EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Courtney Ammenhauser SENIOR PRODUCER: Thom Lion VIDEO PRODUCER: Marlena Cacciotti Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
20 MIN
AUG 5, 2026
Employees vs Sole Traders: Who's Actually Winning?
Everyone seems to have an opinion about the "right" way to work. Get a secure job. Start a business. Build a side hustle. Work remotely. Be your own boss. But once you strip away the Instagram reels and LinkedIn success stories... which path actually leads to more freedom, more money and less stress? In this episode of Biz, Lisa Lie and Em Vernem unpack the biggest myths about modern work with with a peek behind the curtain to see how Australians on either side of the ledger feel about employment, freelancing and self-employment. Together, they explore the trade-offs that rarely make it into the conversation, from flexibility and financial security to purpose, pressure and everything in between. Whether you're climbing the corporate ladder, thinking about starting a side hustle or wondering if self-employment is really worth it, this episode will help you think more clearly about the career that's right for you. In this episode you'll learn: Why social media has distorted the way we think about work. The biggest myths about being your own boss. What employees secretly envy about sole traders... and vice versa. Whether flexibility really leads to greater happiness. The hidden costs and hidden benefits of working for yourself. Practical questions to ask before making your next career move. If you're standing at a career crossroads, this episode is the reality check you've been looking for. THE END BITS Support independent women's media. Got a work life dilemma? Send us all the questions you definitely can't ask your boss for our Biz Inbox episodes - send us a voice note or email us at [email protected]. You can remain anon! HOSTS: Lisa Lie and Em Vernem EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Courtney Ammenhauser SENIOR PRODUCER: Thom Lion VIDEO PRODUCER: Marlena Cacciotti Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
24 MIN